Leading community development at a strategic level demands far more than managing projects — it requires shaping vision, influencing systems, and driving sustainable, locally-owned change at scale. This advanced program is designed for senior practitioners and leaders who must set direction, build institutions, and navigate the complex political, social, and funding landscapes that shape community development today.
Pitched at an international, senior level, this course engages directly with contemporary debates — localisation, decolonising development, systems change, and shifting power to communities. Participants will sharpen the strategic judgement and leadership capabilities needed to lead transformative community development in a rapidly changing global context.
Course Objectives
Upon the successful completion of this program, attendees will be able to:
- Critically evaluate paradigms shaping contemporary community development
- Set strategic vision and direction for community development
- Lead systems-change and locally-led development approaches
- Shift power and decision-making to communities
- Design strategies for sustainable, scalable impact
- Navigate political economy and power dynamics
- Influence policy and institutional environments
- Build and lead multi-stakeholder partnerships
- Mobilise and diversify strategic funding
- Institutionalise accountability to communities
- Lead organisational positioning and strategy
- Integrate equity, inclusion, and rights-based approaches
- Lead adaptive strategy under uncertainty
- Champion ethics and safeguarding at leadership level
- Measure and communicate strategic impact
- Apply emerging trends in community development leadership
Course Outline
- Module 1: Paradigms & Critical Debates in Community Development
- Module 2: Setting Strategic Vision & Direction
- Module 3: Systems Change & Locally-Led Development
- Module 4: Shifting Power to Communities
- Module 5: Designing for Sustainable, Scalable Impact
- Module 6: Political Economy & Power Analysis
- Module 7: Influencing Policy & Institutions
- Module 8: Leading Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
- Module 9: Strategic & Diversified Funding
- Module 10: Institutionalising Accountability
- Module 11: Organisational Positioning & Strategy
- Module 12: Equity, Inclusion & Rights-Based Approaches
- Module 13: Leading Adaptive Strategy Under Uncertainty
- Module 14: Ethics & Safeguarding at Leadership Level
- Module 15: Emerging Trends: Community Development Leadership
Who Should Attend
This advanced course is designed for an international audience of directors, heads of programs, senior managers, and experienced community development professionals who set strategy and lead at organisational or systems level. A strong development background is assumed.
Registration & Inquiry
For more details & inquiry, please contact us at:
